Probably the most obvious response to this question is theundertaking of offshore vessel operations and seabed engi-neering. Indeed, much can be learned from the many yearsof building offshore structures, from the development of engi-neering standards for seabed stability and seismic activitythrough to offshore vessel logistics and installation method-ologies. The oil and gas industry does however have far moreto offer. As energy practitioners, it is our responsibility tolook at the total lifecycle of our energy solution and to ensurethat we are applying the most effcient and effective methodof development. Looking beyond the issue of fossil fuels weshould look to adopt the best practices of our longstanding energy forbearers.

Although learnings from installation and engineering methods bring value,
the greatest contribution the oil and gas sector can make to the offshore
wind industry is a highly evolved integrated strategy towards energy developments. From approaches for risk management, project execution methodologies through to the management of personnel safety and the environment.
Over the course of many years, the industry has developed a highly effective
approach to overall system development. The offshore wind industry should
adapt this approach to its needs to produce a more effcient project with high
safety standards and low local environmental impact.

We have been observing the German offshore wind industry since 2009 when the projects got bigger and were
springing up like mushrooms due to high fnancial incentives they received. The dynamic lead to the fact — as we
noticed — that the whole industry basically started from
scratch. Offshore wind farm operating companies were set
up by German energy supplying companies from nothing.

The development and construction of wind turbines and
the building of wind farms was so highly specialized and
specifcally engineered that there was no use for existing
vessels or equipment from the oil & gas industry.

The German government’s regulations, decisions andmoney fow pushed the offshore wind industry into a vacu-um that created an urgent need for knowledge, people andvessels and the capacities are there to supply the market suffciently.

With the oil & gas crisis it will be interesting to see whether and how oil
& gas vessel operators will move into the wind market and how the offshore
wind industry will react. This could potentially bring about the frst stress
test for the most highly fnanced wind vessel operators. à